CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating neuromuscular and neurological diseases, today announced that it has received a 2017 Beacon Award for industry in the Life Sciences & Healthcare category. The Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County's official economic development organization that recognizes contributions by business to the Miami-Dade economy in the areas of job creation, business expansion, corporate citizenship and leadership.

"Catalyst is proud to be recognized for our progress in supporting innovation in rare disease treatment from our headquarters in Coral Gables. Our proximity to the University of Miami, Florida International University and the Scripps Research Institute is a major draw for an emerging biopharmaceutical company like Catalyst," said Patrick J. McEnany, Chairman and CEO of Catalyst. Additionally, "The Beacon Award comes at a dynamic time for the company as we prepare to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for our lead drug candidate Firdapse® (amifampridine phosphate) for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, which we hope to submit in the
second half of this year if our currently pending studies of Firdapse are successful, bringing us one step closer to commercialization."

About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating neuromuscular and neurological diseases, including Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis and infantile spasms. Firdapse® has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of LEMS and Orphan Drug Designation for LEMS, CMS and myasthenia gravis. Firdapse is the first and only approved drug in Europe for symptomatic treatment in adults with LEMS.

Catalyst is also developing CPP-115 to treat refractory infantile spasms, and possibly refractory Tourette's Disorder. CPP-115 has been granted U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of infantile spasms by the FDA and has been granted E.U. Orphan Medicinal Product Designation for the treatment of West syndrome by the European Commission. In addition, Catalyst is developing a generic version of Sabril® (vigabatrin).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including those factors described in Catalyst's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2016 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst's filings with the SEC are available from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst's website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which
speaks only as of this date.